Our distinguishing features
Our distinguishing features
Naturland provides impetus to and smoothes the way for organic agriculture throughout the world. High standards, a certification system accredited by several bodies, pioneering work in the field of organic agriculture, thinking and working in networks, and the above-average dedication of all Naturland’s members and staff, are Naturland’s distinguishing features.
High standards
Naturland’s farmers and processors work to the highest organic standards, which are even more stringent that the legal requirements imposed by the EC Organic Directive. The standards apply both to production and to processing. Here you can read or download each of Naturland’s standards.
Organic agriculture according to Naturland’s standards is based on a holistic, system-oriented way of looking at things. Partial conversion, which is permitted under the EU Organic Directive, is forbidden by Naturland. The high level of Naturland’s standards, for example where it applies to the purchase of fertilisers or feed (at least 50% of the feed must be produced on the farm itself) requires professional management skills of the farmers. The detailed processing standards for all fields of production are a logical sequel to the holistic perspective – the standards have to be complied with from production to the sale of the goods in the shop.
Naturland’s standards cover areas which are not dealt with in the EC Organic Directive, such as organic aquaculture and social standards. The social standards, which came into effect in 2005, identify the social responsibility of all Naturland’s members.
Advisory expertise
Since Naturland’s inception, skilled advisory services have been an important element of the association. The establishment of a national German and to some extent international network of advisers was therefore a logical step and one of great significance for the guidance of the farmers both in times of prosperity and in difficult phases. Advisory services are essential both to the development of a farm and to quality assurance.
Pioneering work
Penetration into new fields of operation has been part of the mission of Naturland’s farmers, processors and staff since Naturland’s establishment. Organic aquaculture is developing into a large growth market throughout the world. Naturland has been the driving force in many areas of organic fish and organic seafood.
In co-operation with major environmental associations, Naturland developed standards on organic forestry management. In the meantime, (almost) all the large municipal woodlands in Germany have been certified by Naturland.
With the introduction of Naturland‘s social standards, all Naturland’s farmers undertake to comply with social aspects, a novelty among organic associations.
The project fair partnerships goes one step further. On the basis of certain criteria for fair partnerships, manufacturers can be awarded a certificate testifying to particularly fair dealings with the farmers and significant dedication to regional issues.
Consistent networking between Naturland’s farmers, producers, advisers and inspection bodies enables Naturland’s quality assurance to identify each stage Naturland’s products pass through. New projects, such as 
www.bio-mit-gesicht.de, are facilitated and can be developed. This establishes confidence within the trade and among consumers.
International involvement
Naturland has also been involved in international organic agriculture since 1986. The main impetus for this step came from the gepa Fair Trade Company in Wuppertal, Germany, which was looking for a reliable organic farming association for its projects in developing countries and decided on Naturland. Today, over 50,000 farmers in Africa, America and Asia are working to Naturland standards. An impressive record. The main produce is coffee, tea, cocoa, fruit, vegetables, fish and shrimps, most of which are produced in smallholders‘ co-operatives.
Distinguished quality assurance
The Naturland Association and its certification system have been accredited by IFOAM.
Naturland was the first German organic agricultural association to submit successfully to IFOAM’s accreditation programme, in 1997, and to be awarded accreditation by IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements), the international umbrella organisation of organic agriculture.
Annual assessments are made to confirm IFOAM accreditation.
The accreditation procedures successfully submitted to over the years, with continual inspection of Naturland’s quality assurance system, confirm the high quality which Naturland demands of itself as an organic agricultural association.
Politics and pressure groups
Naturland’s farmers and staff are active in many bodies throughout the world, with the aim of promoting organic agriculture. This ranges from involvement in regional associations of organic agriculture in Germany to co-operation with study groups of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation, a specialised agency of the United Nations) in the area of organic agriculture.
Just a few examples:
Dr. Felix Prinz zu Löwenstein, a member of Naturland‘s steering committee and a Naturland farmer since 1992, was largely responsible for the organisation of the establishment of BÖLW, Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft, which was founded in 2002, bringing together for the first time representatives of all those involved in the organic food industry. Löwenstein is its chairman.
Arthur Stein, a member of Naturland’s steering committee and a Naturland farmer since 1986, is chairman of the Landesvereinigung Ökologischer Landbau in Bavaria (LVÖ) and as such is part of a pressure group lobbying for organic agriculture in this German federal state.
Lorenz Huber, chairman of the Bavarian regional committee and a Naturland farmer since 1991, acts as a link between the farmer and dairy and is speaker of the BioMilch-Aktionsgemeinschaft, an organisation catering for various organic dairy associations. There, in co-operation with other speakers for organic milk suppliers, he organised the successful milk strike directed against two organic dairies.
Hans-Dieter Blume, chairman of the regional committee of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and a Naturland farmer since 1987, is involved in that province’s associations with the aim of continually improving or shoring up the political conditions. He also works in the planning group for the so-called Öko-Aktionstage (organic days of action) in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The effect of networks
The examples given of Naturland’s pressure group work show that, in the long run, success is the result of thinking and working in networks. The Naturland Association is, in addition to its involvement in the numerous activities of its members, itself a member of the following organisations:
Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft (BÖLW)
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
Deutscher Naturschutzring (DNR)
Pestizid-Aktionsnetzwerk (PAN Pesticide Action Network)
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau e.V. (FiBL Research Institute of Organic Agriculture)
and in numerous alliances taking action against the use of genetic engineering in agriculture
